Grand jury gets case of immigrant charged in death
The case of Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, who is charged in the shooting death of a man found in a Hamilton garage, has been sent to grand jury for consideration.
Earlier this month, Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, was arrested for aggravated murder in the slaying of Fernando Reyna Oviedo. On March 29, Garcia-Gutierrez was highlighted by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, who said Garcia-Gutierrez entered the country illegally multiple times and was deported to Mexico but returned.
The 41-year-old Oviedo was found dead on April 1 when Hamilton Police officers received a call about a body in the 1100 block of South 13th Street. Police believe Garcia-Gutierrez committed the homicide two days before he was arrested on other charges.
In a 911 call obtained by the Journal-News using public records laws, a male caller spoke in English and Spanish that was difficult to understand even through an interpreter. He said, “One person in the garage ... he is dead, he is dead.”
He said he had not seen the person in “a couple days. I come back and he’s dead.”
Following a preliminary hearing April 10 in Hamilton Municipal Court, Garcia-Gutierrez’s case was sent to grand jury after the judge found sufficient evidence. He remains housed in the Butler County Jail without bond.
Garcia-Gutierrez was an example used by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones in a press conference expressing his frustrations with the Biden Administration’s immigration enforcement and border policies. The sheriff said Garcia-Gutierrez was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, having a weapon while intoxicated, and obstruction, and was detained on an ICE holder.
Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez had also been to prison three times and deported seven times to Mexico, but keeps returning. “(He) says it takes him two weeks to get back,” the sheriff said.